5 Best Books About Modern Day Entrepreneurs Who Made it, And Not In Tech

These modern day hustlers are an inspiration in the social media age. With unique perspectives and cool insights into business, these new age businessmen are killing the game.

One you may not have heard of is Mark Rampolla in High Hanging Fruit. From the former founder of Zico Beverages, the brand that brought you Zico Coconut water. This book is a personal reflection of Mark’s time building Zico from the ground up, before we all knew about the benefits of coconut water. Mark is a great story teller and you get you’ll learn valuable lessons on building a business, while also understanding his perspective on the sustainability, health, and the value of relationships throughout the entrepreneurial journey.

The most popular books on this list may be Shoe Dog by Phil Knight. A must read for any businessperson trying to build something cool, this is the story of the founder of the iconic Nike footwear brand. From a shoestring budget Phil covers how he built a world class team and overcame multiple hurdles to make Nike become the household name it is today. This book has a deep focus on the early days of Nike (especially the first decade) and what it’s going to take to built a company. This memoir of Phil and the brand he created feels very personal and you can really understand the sacrifices he had to make. A humorous and soulful look into an American powerhouse, you do not want to miss this one.

An authentic, hustler mindset book to check out is A Perfect Day to Boss Up by Rick Ross. A Hip-Hop icon Rick Ross covers overcoming adversity and staying motivated to reach your goals. Rick has managed to build an empire in the music industry, and talks about many of his other ventures in from the Food and Beverage industry and many things in between. This book is great if you’re looking for information on handling stressful situations, staying motivated or if you’re looking for tips and tricks on sticking to a plan.

Capital Gaines by Chip Gaines, a witty and refreshingly honest memoir from a good ol’ boy TV star who you may know from the American HGTV show Fixer Upper. This book isn’t going to be a roadmap on building a successful business but instead, an entertaining story a guy with a strong work ethic just trying to make it. You’ll learn more open ended life lessons in this book than concrete business principals. Chip is a jokester which keeps the book entertaining throughout.

Another TV star you might know is Daymond John from the show Shark Tank. His book The Power of Broke is about making the best of what you have to build your business. Daymond focuses on the mentality behind working with a budget and how that can help your throughout your entrepreneurial journey. Not only will you read about how he built his empire starting with the clothing brand FUBU but many other successful people who used the power of broke to scrape, hustle, and dream their way to the top.